Between us, we drove the helm 'hard a-lee,' to use the sea term--for which, indeed, it is impossible to find an equivalent, though I trust to be as sparing in this language as the obligation of explanation will permit--and then, by means of ropes wound round the spokes, so bound the wheel as to cripple all play in it. 'Will she lie up to the wind, do you think,' said I, 'without some square of canvas abaft here to keep her head to it?' 'I have been watching her. I believe she will do very well,' the girl answered. 'I feared that that little head of sail we hoisted in the bay would blow her bows round, and, by this not happening, I suppose that sail is in rags. One would not have heard it split in such a thunder of wind as this.' 'Have you seen your father?' 'Yes. I was talking to him when you were thrown from the wheel. I knew what had happened by the behaviour of the vessel. I ran out, and feared you were lost.' 'What does he counsel?' 'It is still his wish that we should go on putting plenty of sea betwixt us and the land. But do you notice that the gale has gone somewhat into the north? He will be glad to hear it, now that we are no longer scudding. Our drift should put us well clear of the Land's End, and, indeed, I dare say now we are being thrust away at several miles in the hour from the coast. He is very anxious to know if the _Anine_ has taken in water, and wishes me to sound the well. I fear I shall not be able to do this alone.' 'Why should you?' cried I. 'You shall do nothing alone! I cannot credit that you are a girl! Such spirit--such courage--such knowledge of a calling the very last in the wide world that women are likely to understand! Pray let me ask your name?' 'Helga Nielsen,' she answered. 'My father is Peter Nielsen--Captain Peter Nielsen,' she repeated. 'And your name?' 'Hugh Tregarthen,' said I. 'It is sad that you should be here,' said she, 'brought away from your home, suffering all this hardship and peril! You came to save our lives. God will bless you, sir. I pray that the good God may protect and restore you to those you love.' Spite of the roar of the wind, and the ceaseless crashing and seething sound of the smiting and colliding seas, I could catch the falter of emotion in her voice as she pronounced these words; but then, as you will suppose, we were close together, standing shoulder to shoulder against the binnacle, while we exchanged these sentences. 'There is refreshment in the cabin,' said she, after a pause of a moment or two. 'You need support. This has been a severe night of work for you, sir, from the hour of your putting off to us in the lifeboat.'